My mother brought me to a Dublin cinema to see this film in 1958. Aged 8, I came away with the strains of that theme tune, Rooney O in my head, only to haunt me for six decades, searching for that film until now. For anyone growing up in Dublin in the 1950s, these scenes of old Dublin will stir wonderful memories of a different time.
As an aside.... I found a comment here on IMDb in reference to the opening scene voiceover given by Barry Fitzgerald in relation to the unchanged O'Connell street scene. It had grabbed my attention also and I wondered if it had been an observation that was added in a later re-release of the film, post Nelson Pillar demise in 1966.
' - - - the dawn broke over the old city and everything was pretty much as it was the night before - and Nelson's statue still stood in O'Connell Street - - - .' The combination of B&W film footage and a simple honest story will always enhance the imagination.
As an aside.... I found a comment here on IMDb in reference to the opening scene voiceover given by Barry Fitzgerald in relation to the unchanged O'Connell street scene. It had grabbed my attention also and I wondered if it had been an observation that was added in a later re-release of the film, post Nelson Pillar demise in 1966.
' - - - the dawn broke over the old city and everything was pretty much as it was the night before - and Nelson's statue still stood in O'Connell Street - - - .' The combination of B&W film footage and a simple honest story will always enhance the imagination.